Question

The area of a rectangle is 100cm2. After a dilation, the area is 25cm2. What is the scale factor? You may give your answer as a fraction or decimal

Answer 1

1/4 or 0.25

Explanation:

Initial area of the rectangle = 100cm²

After dilation, the area reduces to 25cm²

This shows that there is reduction in the size of the rectangle.

The ratio of the final area to the initial area will give the scale factor.

Ratio = 25cm²:100cm²

= 25/100

= 1/4

The scale factor is therefore 1/4 or 0.25